Dubai

Currency

The dirham is pegged to the USD (1 USD = 3.67 AED, fixed). Exchange at Al Ansari or UAE Exchange offices in malls — very competitive rates.

ATMs & cards

ATMs everywhere (ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB). Most don’t charge a local fee. Your bank’s international fee applies. Withdraw in AED.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

Extremely safe. Respect local customs: no public intoxication, dress modestly outside beach/pool areas, no PDA beyond hand-holding.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Routine vaccinations up to date
• Hepatitis A

Getting treated

World-class private hospitals, and priced accordingly — health insurance is mandatory for residents and strongly advised for visitors. Public emergency care is provided regardless and billed afterwards.

Summer heat is a genuine medical risk between June and September. Bring prescriptions in their original packaging with a doctor’s letter: several common medicines, including codeine and some sleep and anxiety drugs, are controlled and have led to arrests.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Skip hotel restaurants. Eat at Al Mallah (shawarma), Ravi (Pakistani), or Bu Qtair (seafood shack on the beach). Friday brunch is a Dubai institution.

Getting around

• Metro — clean, cheap, covers main attractions. Red line is the most useful. Nol card required
• Taxi — metered, cheap (AED 12 starting). Careem/Uber work well
• Water taxi/abra — AED 1 to cross the Creek, great experience
• Walking — only practical in cooler months and in specific areas (Marina, Downtown)
• Airport: metro Red line to Downtown (30 min, AED 8)

Must-see

Things to do

• Visit Burj Khalifa observation deck
• Explore the Gold and Spice Souks
• Take a desert safari
• Visit the Dubai Mall aquarium
• Walk through Al Fahidi historical district
• Beach day at JBR

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Arabic

• Helloمرحبا — MarhabaMAR-ha-ba
• Pleaseمن فضلك — Min fadlakmin FAD-lak
• Thank youشكرا — ShukranSHOOK-ran
• Yes / Noنعم / لا — Na’am / LaNA-am / la
• Excuse meعفوا — AfwanAF-wan
• How much is it?بكم — Bikam?bi-KAM
• The bill, pleaseالحساب — Al-hisabal-hi-SAB
• Welcomeأهلا وسهلا — Ahlan wa sahlanAH-lan wa SAH-lan

Inshallah, meaning God willing, follows nearly any statement about the future and is conversational rather than religious.

Religion

Sunni Muslim

Islam is the state religion and law reflects it. Alcohol is restricted to licensed venues, public affection is an offence, and Ramadan brings genuine legal restrictions on eating and drinking in public during daylight.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Dress modestly in public — shoulders and knees covered in malls and older districts
• Use the right hand for eating, greeting and handing anything over
• Accept coffee or dates when offered; it is a genuine welcome
• Ask before photographing anyone, particularly local women

Don't

• Do not show public affection beyond hand-holding; couples have been arrested for more
• Do not drink alcohol outside licensed venues, and never be drunk in public — it is an offence
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight in Ramadan
• Do not swear or make rude gestures; both are criminal offences and prosecutions do happen